The empowerment of women has a catalytic effect in rural society, strengthening their voice in the community, forcing attention on human development issues of child rearing, education, health and gender parity.

Micro-credit paves the way

Micro-credit plays a foundational role in their economic empowerment and makes micro-enterprise possible. ITC helps women to organise themselves into micro-credit self-help groups. Groups of 10-20 women form common funds through individual monthly contributions, raising a buffer against family expenses and emergencies.

Women also borrow money from their group funds to start income generation projects. Training in bank and accounting operations enables the groups to access bank loans and government development programmes.

Self-help & enterprise

Women have gone into the making and marketing of a range of cottage products – pickles, dried fish, organic manure, spices, agarbattis, tailoring, embroidery, etc.

Backed by ITC’s marketing support, cottage products like agarbattis and chikan embroidery are emerging as profitable rural industries.